Rooted in Purpose: Planting More Than Trees in Edgewater, Maryland

Rooted in Purpose: Planting More Than Trees in Edgewater, Maryland

As a Tree Ambassador with the Watershed Stewards Academy (WSA), I had the joy of leading a community tree planting project this spring in Edgewater, Maryland. What began as a straightforward plan to plant 12 Sweetbay Magnolias and one Persimmon tree quickly turned into a memorable, muddy, and meaningful day that reminded all of us why this work matters.

This project came together at  Wild Kid Acres (WKA)—a vibrant local farm committed to connecting families to nature and animals. The area chosen for planting had been experiencing some water drainage issues, so adding native trees was not only beneficial for the environment but also for the long-term health of the land. The Sweetbay Magnolia were selected for their ability to handle wetter soil and support local biodiversity.

In the weeks leading up to the event, WOCO Hike & Sound Healing (WOCO) and the Watershed Stewards Academy (WSA) worked hand in hand to gather an incredible group of volunteers. Through consistent outreach, social media promotions, and mutual support, we successfully brought together 18 adult volunteers and 5 youth from our communities. The collaboration between WOCO and WSA made it possible to engage a diverse and enthusiastic group, all eager to show up and make a difference. As the day arrived, the tools were ready, the energy was high—and just when we thought we had everything mapped out, nature had a surprise in store.

The night before the event, heavy rain flooded the planting area. By the time we arrived, we weren’t just planting trees—we were planting them in full-on mud puddles. While this wasn’t what we envisioned nonetheless it became part of the adventure. Instead of shying away, we embraced it. Planting in the mud became a reminder to expect the unexpected and go with nature’s flow. With the right mindset—and thankfully, the right gear provided by WKA—it turned into one of the most memorable parts of the day.

Despite the mud, everything else went beautifully. Wild Kid Acres was the ideal setting, and their hospitality ensured our volunteers felt safe, supported, and welcomed. There was a sense of joy and pride in every tree we placed. Many volunteers were planting for the first time, and I could see in their faces just how powerful this seemingly simple act was. Even the younger participants walked away with muddy boots and full hearts.

This wasn’t just about planting trees—it was about planting connection. Between people. Between communities and the land. Between who we are and who we’re becoming as stewards of this earth. I hope the experience stays with everyone who attended and inspires them to stay curious and active in environmental restoration.

In reflection, I hope this experience serves as a catalyst for all who participated to continue advocating for natural spaces. Whether it’s through tree planting, environmental education, or simply spending more time in nature, we all have a role to play. I’m grateful to WSA for the support from start to finish. Their dedication to this work is unmatched. As for me, I’m proud to serve not just as a Tree Ambassador—but as a WSA Ambassador, championing the importance of stewardship in every season.

I’m already looking forward to getting muddy again this fall!

— Ralinda Wimbush
WSA Tree Ambassador | WOCO Hike & Sound Healing

Latin for Gardeners: May 2025

Latin for Gardeners
May’s Native Maryland Plant

Aruncus dioicus (Walter) Fernald
(uh-RUN-kus dee-OH-ih-kus)
Common Name: Goat’s-beard, Bride’s-feathers

Aruncus dioicus, a clump-forming herbaceous perennial, makes a great addition to a moist, part-shade garden. Its feathery white plumes rise high above the plant and bloom May through July, typically for 10-14 days; they resemble the non-native astilbe (aka False Goat’s-Beard). Aruncus dioicus can be a slow-growing plant but once established it will grow to the size of a shrub and will occupy a large area before dying back each year.

The plant’s species name, dioicus, refers to there being separate male and female plants. The male plant is considered showier due to its many protruding stamens1 when flowering - plants are generally not identified as one or the other when offered for sale. The alternate, pinnately compound and serrated leaves are also an attractive feature of this plant.

Of course, it’s not only the aesthetics of a plant to be considered when choosing plants for a garden.  A plant’s value should also be based on its contribution to biodiversity and the life it supports. These native plants will support many very small insects that are not often seen on other more familiar native plants. Small bees, hoverflies, beetles, spiders and true bugs2 will be found, some seeking nectar and pollen from the small bowl-shaped flowers.  Insectivorous birds will benefit from these insects as they support an ecological food chain. Aruncus dioicious is also a host plant for the Dusky Azure Butterfly (Celastrina nigra), which unfortunately is considered extirpated from Maryland.3 This butterfly can be found in rich deciduous forest in the Appalachians and some areas of the Midwest.

Fortunately, the Rose-breasted grosbeak is not a rare bird in Maryland. They migrate from the tropics in late spring, arriving to backyards and deciduous forests of Maryland in late April and early May.  Like the Goat’s-beard male plant, the male bird is much showier than their female counterpart.  You’ll easily recognize them from the red chevron that extends down their white breast. For most of the year, over half of their diet is made up of insects – they also enjoy seeds and berries. Their large, strong, triangular beaks allow them to eat large grasshoppers, crickets and other insects with tough exoskeletons – a splendid bird to have visiting a garden, wouldn’t you agree?

1Stamens are the male reproductive organs of flowering plants.

2True bugs are a group of insects belonging to the order Hemiptera. They are known for their specialized mouthparts which are used for piercing and sucking.

3A species that was once a viable component of the fauna of Maryland, but for which no naturally occurring populations are known to exist. The spread of invasive garlic mustard (Alliaria officinalis) is often listed as a reason for habitat loss of the Dusky Azure.

Alison Milligan – MG/MN 2013
Watershed Steward Class 7/Anne Arundel Tree Trooper
Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP)
aligmilligan@gmail.com

Remembering Jim Earl

James Arthur Earl

August 14, 1932 - March 23, 2025

There are so many things I did not know when we started WSA. 

One of those things was how important personal philanthropy would be to the success of our little organization. Over 1/3 of WSA’s funding comes from generous contributions of individuals. Whether large or small, those contributions are our most important funding because they can be used for the critical operational expenses that are not covered by grants and other restricted funding. They are the foundation upon which great programs, services and initiatives are built. 

Jim and Sylvia Earl were the very first people I personally asked to support WSA, and boy was I nervous.  Over the last decade, Jim taught me much of what I know today about personal philanthropy and the Helena Foundation’s transformational gifts to WSA have allowed us to boldly pursue our vision. 

As his family and friends gather to remember Jim’s life and legacy this week, my own thoughts center on gratitude for all that I learned from one of our community’s most generous and impactful philanthropists.   

Lesson 1: Be Prepared. Each meeting with Jim was marked by thoughtful and, at times, challenging questions about WSA’s programs and strategies. I learned to not only be prepared with facts and figures about WSA but also to be prepared for continuous learning, such as how to properly recognize donations of stock (a lesson I did not master correctly the first time!).

Lesson 2: Listen, Really Listen. At the heart of those tough questions were core values, driving the thoughtful investment of funds to make our community a better place. Listening to personal stories, appreciating his immense mathematical career, getting to know his family, and viewing his many works of art gave me a sense of how the mission of WSA aligned with the change he envisioned through the Helena Foundation.   

Lesson 3: Believe. Each time I asked for support, Jim answered with profound generosity. Jim’s belief in me, and in WSA, made magic happen…. not only as funds transformed WSA from a small start-up into a powerful force for environmental change, but also for me, personally. Jim’s mentoring helped me to understand my role as an Executive Director in personal philanthropy and gave me the confidence to invite others to join me in supporting the mission of WSA.

Most of all, Jim taught me to love fundraising, because fundraising is, at its core, the deepening of  relationships with people who care about our community. It is the connecting of values and visions – personal ones with organizational ones - to create true and lasting change.  

I am truly grateful to have learned from and laughed with Jim Earl over the last decade plus. Rest in peace, my friend. 

Read more about the life and legacy of Jim Earl. 

-Suzanne Etgen

Remembering Zora Lathan

Adaora "Zora" Lathan

June 29, 1952 - April 9, 2025

Slow it down, Spread it out, Soak it in!

It's a phrase every Watershed Steward knows by heart, and it's a phrase we live by. It's so simple - no calculations, no Latin names, no regulations. Yet, it's the one phrase that has changed landscapes across the County through the outreach and actions of hundreds of Watershed Stewards over the last 16+ years.

The phrase was brought to us by Zora Lathan. While she is not the author, she is the person who plucked the concept from among so many environmental slogans and helped to embed it in the fabric of WSA.

Zora was a founding Consortium Member of WSA, helping to guide the development of the Steward Certification Course. Her book "Ecoscaping Back to the Future" was included in WSA's first "Tool Box for Sustaining Actions" and distributed to hundreds of Watershed Stewards over the years.

In 2010, Zora approached me with an idea to spread the word about RainScaping to communities across our County through Watershed Stewards. WSA's Clean Water Communities program was born and the concept of RainScaping was embedded in our Certification Course and all of our outreach materials.

Perhaps she is most well known locally for founding the Chesapeake Ecology Center - both the physical gardens installed at Mary Moss at the J. Albert Adams Academy and the prolific writings and resources on the CEC website.

Personally, I am so grateful to have known Zora and for the gift of her tenacious and passionate commitment to helping us all slow it down, spread it out, and soak it in.

Read more about Zora's amazing life and legacy.

-Suzanne Etgen